Food versus Retirement

[snafu]

In our experience, most meals cost 2/3 more in a restaurant than if it was prepared at home BUT that doesn't take into account the time and effort to buy the makings or the work to make meal & resultant clean-up. I am very concerned about the chemicals in restaurant foods and how foods are managed + I like the creativity of cooking since my work is so structured. Too many restaurants now use pre packaged, frozen foods, just like frozen food bags @ Costco.

As I wait at grocery check-out, I am certain most shoppers have no budget, no plan, no list and buy items that appeal to them as they walk around. It's easy to see who is hungry while shopping...more than half their choices are convenience/junk food. If they took a moment to read the carton, they would quickly discover those 'Lean Cuisine' type boxes offer poor nutrition, lots of unpronounceable chemicals for a hefty price per edible ounce.

It's so simple to throw a whole chicken in a pan, sprinkle with spices at hand, perhaps a cup of wine and slide into the oven 30 min. per lb. [av. 1.5 hrs.] Half way through cooking, chunk whatever veggies you'll eat like potato/yam, carrot, broccoli, sweet pepper,zucchini, mushroom etc. sprinkle with a tiny bit of quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil & fav. spices or dry soup powder on a flat pan and slide that into the oven. While the cooking continues, tear up some salad greens, whiz a carrot, & celery stick. Adding a couple of cherry tomatoes makes salad. If you're ambitious, chunk a broccoli floret, a hunk of cauliflower, & a cup of frozen peas. Dump all in boiling water [called blanching] for a few minutes as this makes foods easier to digest. Drain, add a handful of cherry tomatoes & serve with whatever dressing you like. [It keeps hunger under control while you wait for your chicken to finish baking].

In under two hours, this can be stretched to four meals, and costs around $10. for example.

[PetMom]

We try to stick to basics. We have not had a restaurant meal since last spring - our once a year splurge.

We were adding more organic foods to our budget and I felt that was great.

Food does seem to be a big expense - but it can help a lot with family health.

I think the biggest waste is with flat out junk food: fried, sugar/salt laden,
processed (except on rare occasions).

[LivingAlmostLarge]

$280/month groceries and $275 eating out.

[My English Castle]

The heck with David Bach, I buy coffee every day that I teach. We eat dinner out between once and twice a month. DH gets lunch free at work (how's that for fabulous!), and I usually eat lunch when I go home after teaching. But we like to treat ourselves a bit; nothing very fancy unless it's our birthday or anniversary. But I don't think once or twice a month is excessive at all.
And don't argue with me about my coffee. I'm a Scandinavian; some things are sacred.

[maat55]

The real question should be: Are many unwittingly retiring broke/small egg while spending excessively on food and beverage throught out their lives?

At least smokers know they are choosing their vice over additional savings.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by maat55

The real question should be: Are many unwittingly retiring broke/small egg while spending excessively on food and beverage throught out their lives?

The answer is probably yes. I don't happen to think I'll be one of those people. As I've posted many times, we do not live with a budget (sorry Dave Ramsey). The only thing we do budget is our savings. I know exactly how much goes to savings each and every month. However, I really don't know what we spend on groceries and dining out. I also don't know how much we spend on gas, clothing or most anything else. As far as I'm concerned, it really doesn't matter as long as all of the bills get paid and all of the savings goals are met. Could we reduce our spending and increase our savings? Sure. I just don't feel it is necessary for us to do that based on my calculations and projections.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

you could say that transportation versus retirement. instead of a larger car i should drive the smallest most fuel efficient. only used cars ages 3-10 years old. no frills, etc. i bet more than food a lot of people have driven themselves broke with car payments or leases.